Aeroplane



July 28 21925. a

Q. DQRNKER AEROPLANE Filed Aug. 24:, 1921 INVENTOR Quiy 28,

154mm C.D$RNER AEROPLANE Filed Aug. 24, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedJuly 28, 1925.

CLAUDIUS DOR-NIER, 0F FRIEDRICHSHAIFEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR T0 PATENT THEFIRM ZEPPELINWERK LINDAU GESELLSCHAIET MIT BESCHRANKTER HAFTUNG, OF LIN-DAU-REUTIN, GERMANY.

AEROPLAN E.

Application filed August 24, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GLAUmUs Donmna, a

citizen of the German Empire, residing at t Friedrichsha-fen, Germany,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes, ofwhich the following is a specification. f

My invention relates to flying machines and more especially toaeroplane, and it is an object of my invention to produce flyingmachines of the type specified which will be able to start and land withthe shortest run possible. This particular object is accomplished bymeans of a-flyingmachine, the propeller axis of which is, in accordancewith my invention, disposed so as to possess an upward inclinationrelatively to the axis of the flying machine. In order to still furtherincrease the effect hereby attained, the axis of the flying machine,when this latter is resting on the ground, may be directed upwards assteeply as ossible. In a preferred form ofm nove ll .ing machine theangle, atwhich t e prope ler exerts a pull on the machine is variable.In accordance therewiththe propeller is adapted to be os cillated abouta substantially horizontal axis so asto act as a lifting propeller.Preferably the motor is suspended in such manner as to be able to followthis oscillatory movement .of the propeller and both the motor andv thepropeller are freevto turn about their axis'automatically whereby thepropeller is enabled to adjust itself to the most favorable angle- I mayfurther provide means for limiting the oscillation and for fixin boththe motor and the propeller in any desired position relatively to theflying 1 machine proper.

In a machine of the kind aforesaid the proportion between the pullexertedby the propeller and the total weight of the ma chine is of thepresent mvention this proportion 1s preferably so chosen that theapullis at the least equal to the total weight. In order to provide for thedifferences in starting a machine of this novel type, as compared withmachines-of the'usual type, the end of the machine or the spur attachedthereto, respective] are so constructed that the machine is enab ed,when starting, to turn about this int.

In the drawings affixed to this specificashaped brake spur e,

eat importance, According to Serial H'o. 494,977.

tion and forming part thereof two modifications of a flying machine ofthe monoplane pe embodying my invention are illustrated agrammaticallyby way of example.

Referring to Fig. 1, the axis a of the flying machine intersects withthe horizontal line b at the comparatively big angle oz:40. On the otherhand, the axis a of the propeller intersects the axis a at the angle Q.It will thus be seen that the axis 0 is disposed at a still greaterincline relatively to the horizontal plane than the axis a. The rear endof the flying machine is provided with a runner d of customary typehaving a hook by means of which the tail end of the flying machine maybe held down on the groundwhen starting or landing. By means of a wirerope (not shown), the brake spur may be drawn up from the drivers seat.

In the machine illustrated in F ig. 2 the hull 1 carries a motor 2driving the traction. propeller 3, which latter isfree to. turn oroscillate about a horizontal axis 4 so as to assume the position 3(shown in' dotted lines). The original propeller axis 5 forms with thevertical axis 3' an angle a. In the position 3 the traction propelleracts as a lifting screw. As shown, the longitudinal axis of the hullencloses with therground an an "le of about 25.

y invention is applicable to aeroplanes of any kind whatsoever, it is,however, pref erably intended for monoplanes since it affords specialadvantages in connection with machines of this particular type.

I claim:

1. An aeroplane comprising a hu1l, landing gear fixed to said hull insuch position,

that the longitudinal axis of the hull when the machine is resting onthe ground is inclined to the ground and a propeller shaft normallymounted in said hull at a greater angle to the ground than thelongitudinal axis of said hull.

2. Anaeroplane comprising a-hull, land:

ing gear fixed to said hull in such position,

that the longitudinal axis of the hull W11 1 least equal to the weightof the aeroplane.

3. An aeroplane comprising a hull, landing gear fixed to said hull insuch position, that the longitudinal axis of the hull when the machineis resting on the ground isinclined to the ground and a propeller shaftnormally mounted in said hull at a greater angle to the ground'than thelongitudinal axis of said hull and capable of being adjusted in saidhull at a still greater angle.

4. An aeroplane comprising a hull, landing gear fixed to said hull insuch position, that the longitudinal axis of the hull when the machineis restingon the ground, is inclined to the ground, a propeller shaftnormally mounted in said hull at a greater angle to the ground than thelongitudinal axis of said hull and capable of being adjusted in saidhull at a still greater angle and a propeller on said shaft capable ofexerting a pull which is at least equal to the weight of the aeroplane.

5. An aeroplane comprising a hull, landthe machine is resting on theground, is inclined to the ground at an angle of 25 to 40, a propellershaft normally mounted in said hull at a greater angle to the groundthan the longitudinal axis of said hull and a propeller on said shaftcapable of exerting a pull which is at least equal to the weight of theaeroplane. 4

7 An aeroplane comprising a hull, landing gear fixed to said hull insuch position, that the longitudinal axis of the hull when the machineis resting on the ground is inclined to the ground'at an angle of 25 to40 and a propeller shaft normally mounted insaid hull at a greater angleto the ground than the longitudinal axis of said hull and capable ofbeing adjusted in said hull at a still greater angle.

8. An aeroplane comprising a hull, landing'gear fixed to said hull insuch position, that the longitudinal axis of the hull when the machineis-resting on the ground, is inclined to the ground at an angle of 25 to40, a propeller shaft normally mounted in said hull at a greater angleto the ground than the longitudinal axis of said hull and capable ofbeing adjusted in said hull at a still greater angle and a propeller onsaid shaft capable. of exerting a ull which is at least equal to theweight 0 the aeroplane.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CLAUDIUS DORNIER.

